Max Verstappen delivered a stunning drive from pit lane to podium at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, finishing third despite early puncture
SAO PAULO: Max Verstappen produced one of his greatest drives to storm from a pit-lane start to the podium at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix on Sunday.
The Red Bull driver fought through the field and overcame an early puncture to secure a remarkable third-place finish.
Twenty-four hours after dismissing his title hopes, Verstappen delivered a performance that showcased his relentless determination.
Series leader Lando Norris won for McLaren, extending his championship advantage over teammate Oscar Piastri to 24 points.
Norris now leads Verstappen by 49 points with three races and one sprint remaining this season.
“The race was quite full on and had a lot of action,” said an understated Verstappen.
“I had to overtake some cars, coming from the pit lane.”
He expressed surprise at achieving a podium finish given his challenging circumstances.
“To be on the podium from the pit lane, I didn’t expect that at all, even with a puncture at the beginning of the race,” Verstappen admitted.
“That is why we had to box again so it’s an incredible result for us and I’m very happy with that.”
The Dutch driver praised his team’s resilience after a difficult qualifying session.
“I’m very proud of everyone within the team as well,” Verstappen said.
“Yesterday was very tough for us, but we never give up and we always try and improve and find more lap time.”
Despite his impressive recovery drive, Verstappen remained realistic about his championship prospects.
“We’ve got to be realistic,” he acknowledged.
“Over the whole season, we’ve not been good enough, but we will keep on trying to win races and see what happens.”
Verstappen became the eighth driver in Formula One history to claim a podium after starting from the pit lane.
He achieved the feat exactly one year after winning at Interlagos from 17th on the grid.
The Dutchman is the first driver to accomplish this since seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton in Hungary back in 2014. – AFP
